Bangalore: Karnataka Cabinet today (Feb 16, 2004) decided to recommend dissolution of the Assembly.

Announcing the decision to reporters, Chief Minister S M Krishna said he would send the letter to Governor T N Chaturvedi conveying the decision and recommending the dissolution of the Assembly on February 23.

"The primary reason for the decision to curtail the term of the Assembly is our confidence to return to power in the elections," Krishna said.

To a query, however, he admitted that the need for early Assembly elections would not have arisen had the Lok Sabha elections taken place as scheduled.